The Official FIFA World Cup 2022 Megathread

[Jack Regan]

I'm mostly cynical to all football these days including Wolves and therefore totally ambivalent to England going out. I did however let out a big ha! when Croatia equalised against Brasil and when the Dutch equalised against Argentina too. Morocco beating Portugal made me smile too.

I think I ultimately lost interest in England when they were beaten by Portugal in 2004.

 

[jd1981]

I’ll pretend we were the Brazil of 82 to cheer myself up

 

[t3ch]

It’s probably a reflection of the much less prominent view of ‘nationalism’ outside US. Even with all the Brexit shite etc here (most) people would still find it deeply weird singing the national anthem at school or worshiping a flag.

I find both of those things weird, but I also find the silliness and complete-lack-of-irony when going USA USA YEAH BOIIII #1 to be entertaining. always more fun when you have a dog in the fight. might as well be your own house.

 

[White Wolf]

It honestly makes me sad how ambivalent some of you are toward the international side of the game.

There’s a lot of joy to be had by throwing in with a little well-meaning sport jingoism.

It is pretty curious, as a country a lot of us are rather averse to being very patriotic because it has a lot of negative connotations. Tabloid press make it quite hard as the jingoism and war references can get nauseating and the English flag has a lot of association with far-right politics. I know people from other European countries who are all a lot more patriotic when it comes to supporting their country in sport for instance or have no qualms about singing the national anthem and they find it unusual too. People from Wales and Scotland are usually more openly supportive of their country. I wouldn't want to be like the US is but a lot of Europeans are proud of their country without being some knuckledragger.

I find Southgate to be quite good in that regard actually as he clearly loves England and the role he has and I think he motivates the squad well without delving into jingoism or anything.

 

[Alan]

It’s probably a reflection of the much less prominent view of ‘nationalism’ outside US. Even with all the Brexit shite etc here (most) people would still find it deeply weird singing the national anthem at school or worshiping a flag.

And well you should, those are fascist things that we do and we think nothing of it.

FWIW nobody really needs to pull the "but America" card with me (not saying you are, Tredders). I'm well aware that we're the largest imperial power in the world. Whether the average American understands that or not.

But international football? That actually gives me something positive to be an American about. Not a situation I find myself in very often, given my political leanings.

 

[jd1981]

This isn’t Bolton 95, palace 97 or Watford 2019 but by god it’s a stinker one that you’ll relieve and think what if. We were better in a football sense but more nieve

 

[Wilf Wolf]

I despise Kane I've said it on here on numerous occasions including earlier today, but when it's playing for England I want him to do well. I struggle to see why an English person wouldn't. The Everton vs France decision isn't binary. Wolves staying up or an England World Cup win would be a simple choice for me, but one has zero baring on the other. France aren't any better than us and will probably go on and win the tournament. Its an opportunity lost

I said myself it’s not a binary choice. I wanted Kane to score, I’m very disappointed we’re out but when Kane comes to Molineux I shall happily remind him of his miss. That’s the nature of football.

 

[WsWolf]

I said myself it’s not a binary choice. I wanted Kane to score, I’m very disappointed we’re out but when Kane comes to Molineux I shall happily remind him of his miss. That’s the nature of football.

4th march. Hope he gets both barrels, cheating bastard him.

 

[Tredman]

And well you should, those are fascist things that we do and we think nothing of it.

FWIW nobody really needs to pull the "but America" card with me (not saying you are, Tredders). I'm well aware that we're the largest imperial power in the world. Whether the average American understands that or not.

But international football? That actually gives me something positive to be an American about. Not a situation I find myself in very often, given my political leanings.

I don’t disagree, I’m about as unpatriotic as it gets - I still always massively want England to do well though (and not the glorious failure type shite). Not sure I know anyone as desperate for England to do well as me - I can fairly quickly shrug it off though, I’m already not that bothered. If it were Wolves losing a league game I’m usually in a bad mood for at least a couple of days.

 

[jd1981]

Look I was angry with Kane but shit happens, I’m amazingly chilled after such disappointment. We played well excited a lot but failed.

 

[Alan]

If there were a call to merge into a UK national side, would there be stronger feelings against it from the English or the other Home Nations, do you think?

Asking with the expectation that no one would be particularly thrilled at the idea.

 

[Tredman]

If there were a call to merge into a UK national side, would there be stronger feelings against it from the English or the other Home Nations, do you think?

Asking with the expectation that no one would be particularly thrilled at the idea.

I can’t see Wales, Scotland and NI being that happy about watching 11 English players start for a UK team tbf

 

[MARKakaJIM]

If there were a call to merge into a UK national side, would there be stronger feelings against it from the English or the other Home Nations, do you think?

Asking with the expectation that no one would be particularly thrilled at the idea.

The others.

 

[sycophantia]

If there were a call to merge into a UK national side, would there be stronger feelings against it from the English or the other Home Nations, do you think?

Asking with the expectation that no one would be particularly thrilled at the idea.

Both, everyone hates everyone else, from a football pov.

 

[Johnny75]

If there were a call to merge into a UK national side, would there be stronger feelings against it from the English or the other Home Nations, do you think?

Asking with the expectation that no one would be particularly thrilled at the idea.

Every single person would be 'fuck that shit'

 

[Alan]

I can’t see Wales, Scotland and NI being that happy about watching 11 English players start for a UK team tbf

 

[White Wolf]

If there were a call to merge into a UK national side, would there be stronger feelings against it from the English or the other Home Nations, do you think?

Asking with the expectation that no one would be particularly thrilled at the idea.

The other Home Nations would be massively opposed as they'd see it as a threat to their identity, separate teams are an important part of that. You also have to remember that for some countries their presence on the world stage is minimal and it might be something like sport when you are seen.

Scotland has a greater cultural presence but for Wales and Northern Ireland having their own national team is probably one of the most prominent ways of representing the country abroad.

 

[1986]

Hard to be critical of the performance , but will England get a better chance than this to win a World Cup in the next 12 years ? There are some fine players in that team , but some of the older ones will not be there in 4 years , and you need experienced heads .
The draw really opened up for England after Portugal's exit and indeed Brazil . Hard to see it being like that in 4 years or 8 years .

 

[Tredman]

Since the WC is over, and putting aside being facetious, I think only Any Robertson gets close to being in that England team. Why on earth would the other nations want to combine?

And that totally ignores the cultural differences - it’s a quirk, and probably one which annoys a lot of other counties, but the home nations are very distinct in Football heritage.

 

[EpsomWolf]

Rode the emotional rollercoaster like everyone else and for a while afterwards was picking the bones out of the fine margins, but ultimately, France scored twice from open play and we were relying on a couple of penalties.

It hurts and the boys did well but in the end, just didn’t quite do enough unfortunately.